Because life is made up of the small things.

Japan Dreams, Part One

Kofukuji Temple, Nara

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to visit Japan.

Growing up in the messy urban sprawl that is Metro Manila, I was always fascinated by how castles and traditional structures could coexist with more modern architecture, especially in such a technologically advanced country like Japan. This was pre-anime days, mind you, when what I knew of the Land of the Rising Sun was the zany, wacky weirdness of Takeshi’s Castle (hosted by Anjo Yllana and Smokey Manaloto!) and information gleaned from those old and boring documentaries they used to show on the now-defunct government-run PTV13.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara

And then along came anime during my teens, then Japanese food a few years later — needless to say, I became hopelessly in love.